Will ZoneAlarm ever be available for 64-bit Windows Vista?
ZoneAlarm was at one time the most downloaded piece of software available across all categories, which raises the question- where is the version compatible with 64-bit Windows Vista? The company that produces ZoneAlarm has stated several times that it will be available "in 2008," so what’s the story?
The 64-bit version of Vista includes significant security feature upgrades over the previous 32-bit kernel, which might account for the delay in release of a compatible ZoneAlarm, but the problem mostly lies in the fact that it’s much harder these days for third-party developers to create security software for the 64-bit version, according to BetaNews.
While a version was supposed to be introduced sometime this year, Check Point Software Technologies, which makes ZoneAlarm, has added that it will now be available in "late 2008." Thus far, that’s pretty much the only information being released from the secretive software company. To top it off, Check Point unveiled its latest Zone Alarm Pro 8.0 beta on Monday- without the 64-bit version.
The biggest problem in all of this is the fact that ZoneAlarm is still being sold at retailers advertising that it’s a firewall made for both Windows XP and Vista. While that’s true, and it will work on the 32-bit version of Vista, when users purchase and install ZoneAlarm- they’ll get a message stating that it’s not compatible. A while back this wouldn’t have been a big deal given that most shipped versions of Vista were indeed the 32-bit version, but as PC-makers begin shipping the 64-bit version more and more, ZoneAlarm will see more and more upset users.
ZoneAlarm’s relationship with Vista has had its up and downs since the beginning almost. It was one of many security programs that had difficulty cooperating with even the new 32-bit kernel- and last February, the 32-bit Vista edition found itself defeated by Vista SP1. ZoneAlarm isn’t alone in its trouble with Windows, many security titles have had problems creating software that will work without any problems at all. Maybe Vista has just made the necessary improvements to Vista as everyone had hoped for, and it’s decreasing the need for third-party security software all together.
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August 18th, 2009
“Maybe Vista has just made the necessary improvements to Vista as everyone had hoped for, and it’s decreasing the need for third-party security software all together.”
hahahahaha are you kiding me?